Genesis 2&3 - literal or symbolic?

[jereth]

I'd like to invite all creationists (YEC, OEC, Gap theorists, etc.) to share their thoughts about Genesis chapters 2 & 3. I know you all believe that Adam was a literal, historical man, and that he and his wife Eve committed a literal, historical sin which plunged humanity into a fallen state.

But how literal or symbolic are the actual elements of the story? Please vote on the poll and comment as you please.

Thanks.

 

[TorchDude]

I see Genesis as providing enough detail to suggest it wasn't a metaphor but a historical account of how God created mankind.

 

[sjdennis]

I would agree with TorchDude. Plenty of detail, no reason to think anything other than a true account.

 

[Pats]

I feel like I should come back and vote on this after I had the chance to study more some of the things I'm looking at right now. But, my thoughts and beliefs are an every work in progress.

So, I'll just say where I'm at now.

I think that Adam and Eve were probably literal people.
I think the Garden of Eden might have been a real place, and Satan might have really taken the form of a serpant in tempting Eve.

Alot of the rest of it seems more symbolic than literal to me.

One question I've always had, and would enjoy the input of creationists on, is this:
If God really locked Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden and placed a charibum with a flaming sword at the gate to gaurd it... whatever happened to the charibum with the flaming sword?

 

[ChetSinger]

One question I've always had, and would enjoy the input of creationists on, is this:
If God really locked Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden and placed a charibum with a flaming sword at the gate to gaurd it... whatever happened to the charibum with the flaming sword?

Whatever was left of the garden was destroyed in the Flood, so there would be no need for the charibum after that.

Or perhaps the garden fell into disrepair in the centuries after the fall, and the charibum was no longer necessary.

 

[sjdennis]

I feel like I should come back and vote on this after I had the chance to study more some of the things I'm looking at right now. But, my thoughts and beliefs are an every work in progress.

So, I'll just say where I'm at now.

I think that Adam and Eve were probably literal people.
I think the Garden of Eden might have been a real place, and Satan might have really taken the form of a serpant in tempting Eve.

Alot of the rest of it seems more symbolic than literal to me.

One question I've always had, and would enjoy the input of creationists on, is this:
If God really locked Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden and placed a charibum with a flaming sword at the gate to gaurd it... whatever happened to the charibum with the flaming sword?

Well, there are two major ways of looking at the Cherubim:

1) Terry Pratchet
According to the inspired wistom of Mr Pratchet, the cherubim gave his flaming sword to Adam because they looked so cold and Eve was expecting a child already. However, Mr Pratchet's novels are probably not the best sources of theological knowledge.

2) What probably actually happened:

Whatever was left of the garden was destroyed in the Flood, so there would be no need for the charibum after that.

Or perhaps the garden fell into disrepair in the centuries after the fall, and the charibum was no longer necessary.